Thieves stealing from construction homes

Tools

Story Published: Dec 30, 2008 at 10:27 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 30, 2008 at 10:53 PM MST

By Jennifer McGraw

Video
JEFFERSON COUNTY - Time, and time again, building materials were delivered and the next day they were gone.

"Probably a little over $10 thousand dollars worth of stuff the first time," says Coleman Oswald, new homeowner.

All of the contractors tools and paint supplies, gone.

"Just tools, not to mention the materials. They stole the handrail and banister right off of the stairs," says Oswald.

Then just weeks later:

"On a Friday night again, Saturday morning rolls around and I get the phone call," he adds.

This time all the siding and trim.

"The whole pallet disappeared including the siding to do the project," he says.

Now, close to finish, robbed for the third time.

"Only a week later, and I had come over and put deadbolts on every single door and made sure the whole house was locked up and that would be enough, but obviously it wasn't," he says with frustration.

"We were hoping of course that it would be a really good construction and everything would go as planned and it hasn't even come close to that at all," says Randi Poorman, Oswald's finance.

Their contractor is seeing it happen more and more.

"They come up and break the padlock and hook up the trailer and go. Taking about $8 thousand dollars and we never recovered a penny," says Consejo Palacios from All Trade Contracting.

Shattered glass, stolen doors, banisters, all the hardwood flooring and even the gadgets.

"And that's all they left. They left me the one seven dollar light and took all the nice ones," says Oswald.

"We're not even married yet and these are the kinds of things that are happening now. I don't know. It's just sad," says Poorman.

No suspects, but an obvious pattern.

"Everything that's disappearing is only here for a day or two," says Oswald.

But this time the suspects left a trail and police have a lead.

"I'm not even going to chance it. I've got surveillance cameras that are going to be installed and I'm just going to sleep out here and if someone comes in they're going to regret it," adds Oswald.

The couple is filing insurance claims now and hopes to see some recovery.

Police recommend you lock up your supplies and have surveillance cameras.

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